The Glasgow Tryst ends on St Andrew's Night with an evening oi poetry and song hosted by Chapman, the little Scots literary magazine. Over the weekend there is music tor tree in a couple oi bars, a iew pounds gaining admission to a good number oi concerts, ceilldhs and recitals. Two competitions in traditional music (Sat 28th) are open to spectators at a nominal iee.

The traditional singing and instrumental pairs event is being run by the Traditional Music And Song Association Oi Scotland in the Hutcheson Hall and Glasgow City Chambers is the venue tor the Scotway Prolessional Bagpipe Competitions. See listings.

Over in Edinburgh, the Reid Concert Hall also rings to a concert oi piping on

the 28th. One oi the soloists is Bab Wallace, a member oi the Whlslebinkles, who has been playing superb pipes, both Lowland and Highland, in a iolk group context long beiore it became the iashlonable sound. Taste changes, and at the moment it’s hard to iind a new album that doesn’t have a saxophone tucked into the mix. Celtic Hotel, the new album from the Battleileld Band (see photo), includes the requisite sax, but played by their own piper Dougie Pincock.

The record is their best tor a while and many ilne moments include a iew songs and instrumentals using simple delicate acoustic instruments, yet when the heavies are brought in as the synth, sax, bass, drums and pipes in Gran Tara and Madadh Buadh, two oi Oougie's tunes, they are deployed tasteiully but with welly. Sting's song We Work The Black Seam is treated to a powerful understated vocal/synth arrangement and although the album’s title track is an overiong extended metaphor to a dull tune, Scotland’s stagiest iolk band have managed to avoid any oi their previous excesses.

Battlefield headline a big night for the Airican National Congress in Edinburgh (6th).

I Battlefield Band Assembly Rooms, George Street. 8pm. £5 (£2). Concert for the ANC. With Wray Gun And The Rockets, Alexander Sisters, Comedy Casuals. Moonlighters. SWAPO Choir and many others. See panel.

I Glenelg Music Youngs Hotel. Leamington Terrace. 9pm—midnight. Acoustic music nights. Group to be confirmed.